192.150.115.150 (talk) No edit summary |
Corrected numerous factual errors and severe POV bias; added additional information, photo, and links |
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[[Image:Terri_schiavo_and_mom.jpg|frame|right|Terri Schiavo and her mother.]] |
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In [[1990]], Schiavo collapsed in her home and suffered irreversible [[brain damage]] after her [[heart]] stopped beating because of chemical imbalance brought on by an [[eating disorder]]. She has been in a vegetative state ever since. She is capable of [[breathing]] on her own, but she cannot [[swallow]]. |
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Her husband, Michael Schiavo, who lives with and has two children by another woman, contends that she is "a vegetable" and would not wish to live in that state. |
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A philosophical battle emerged during the late 1990s between husband Michael Schiavo and Terri's parents. While she had no written will as to what her wishes were, Michael insists that through several conversations they had had, Michael was sure she would want to die. The question "is living in a vegetative state truly living?" emerged in debates on this situation. Protests in Florida began to emerge, urging for "Terri to live," (the conservative stance) and others for the ability for the husband to be able to control the destiny of his wife--the more liberal stance. |
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Her family (parents and siblings) contest that claim, and say that Michael seeks Terri's death so that he can inherit her estate. |
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Legally, Michael married Terri, and therefore became her 'Guardian' in the event that something happened to her. Terri's parents claim that he wants to murder her, and want to gain guardianship of Terri. Michael could legally sign the guardianship to them, but refuses to do so, claiming he is doing what is best for his wife. |
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The question of whether people with profound mental handicaps have a right to live has been hotly debated as a result of Terri's case. Liberal "[[right to die]]" activists contend that "living in a vegetative state isn't truly living," and support the ability of the estranged husband to control the destiny of his wife. Conservative "[[pro-life]]" activists protest for Terri's "right to live." |
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⚫ | In [[2004]], Michael Schiavo won a court case to have her [[ |
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In [[1990]], Terri collapsed in her home and suffered irreversible [[brain damage]]. The cause of her collapse is a controversial subject. At the time of her collapse, the couple was having marital problems. Michael Schiavo's contention is that she suffered a heart attack because of chemical imbalance brought on by an [[eating disorder]]. Others, including members of her family, have speculated that she might have been asphyxiated by her husband. |
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Terri is severely disabled. Michael contends that she is in a [[Persistent Vegetative State]] (PVS), which Terri's family fiercely disputes. She cannot speak or eat normally. She has difficulty [[swallow]]ing, and is fed through a gastric feeding tube, though she can take [[Holy Communion]]. She is not in a coma or on life-support. She smiles, laughs, cries, moves, and makes child-like attempts at speech. Sometimes she will say "Mom" or "Dad" or "yeah" when her parents ask her a question. When they kiss her, she looks at them and "puckers up" her lips. |
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Terri's family has been battling her estranged husband over her fate since 1993. Though she never wrote a "[[Living Will]]" expressing a wish to refuse nutrition or medical treatment if disabled, Michael claims to recall conversations they had had which, he says, make him sure she would want to die. However, her family disputes that, saying that Terri is a devout [[Roman Catholic]] who would not wish to violate the Church's teachings on euthanasia and suicide by intentionally starving or dehydrating herself to death. |
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⚫ | Michael Schiavo claims that she would not have wanted to live as a vegetable, and that he is fighting for her right to die. |
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Terri's family also points out that Michael apparently did not recall those conversations immediately after Terri's collapse. It was only several years later, after Terri received $1.7 million in legal settlements to cover the cost of her long term care and rehabilitation, that Michael first claimed to remember conversations in which Terri expressed a wish to die rather than live in the condition in which she now finds herself. If she dies, Michael will inherit whatever remains of that money. |
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⚫ | Michael Schiavo claims that she would not have wanted to live "as a vegetable," and that he is fighting for her "right to die." As legal [[guardian]] of Terri, he has placed strict limits on the time her family is allowed to visit her, and he has refused to allow her to undergo any sort of therapy. Instead, he had her placed in [[hospice]], though her condition is not terminal. |
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Michael could legally cede guardianship to Terri's parents, but refuses to do so, claiming he is doing what is best for her. Her parents want to bring her home; they maintain that, with therapy, their daughter can be helped. |
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⚫ | In [[2004]], Michael Schiavo won a court case to have her [[feeding tube]] removed so that she would die of [[starvation]]. Six days later, the [[Florida]] Legislature, in emergency session, passed [[Terri's law]], giving Florida [[Governor]] [[Jeb Bush]] the right to intervene in the case; he immediately ordered the feeding tube reinserted. |
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During the six days that Terri's feeding tube was removed, Michael prohibited any attempt to feed her orally, and refused to allow a [[priest]] to place a small part of a wafer on her tongue during [[Holy Communion]]. |
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Her parents accuse him of having caused her condition by not seeking help quickly enough after she collapsed. They have recorded video of instances when Terri appears to be at least somewhat aware, able to smile at her mother's voice or touch. They want to bring her home; they maintain that, with therapy, their daughter can be helped. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.terrisfight.org/ Online home of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation] |
* [http://www.terrisfight.org/ Online home of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation] |
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* [http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=10715 Lying About Terri Schiavo] |
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* [http://www.sptimes.com/2003/11/02/State/How_Terri_s_Law_came_.shtml/ St. Petersburg Times article about Terri's law] |
* [http://www.sptimes.com/2003/11/02/State/How_Terri_s_Law_came_.shtml/ St. Petersburg Times article about Terri's law] |
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* [http://www.talkabouthealthnetwork.com/group/misc.handicap/messages/51669.html Stephen Drake of Not Dead Yet]: ''...The doctor told my parents I would be a "vegetable" for the rest of my life - the same word now being used for Schiavo...'' |
Revision as of 18:50, 18 February 2005
Terri Schiavo (born Theresa Marie Schindler on December 3, 1963) is a mentally handicapped American woman whose estranged husband's efforts to have her starved to death have prompted a fierce debate over euthanasia.
Her husband, Michael Schiavo, who lives with and has two children by another woman, contends that she is "a vegetable" and would not wish to live in that state.
Her family (parents and siblings) contest that claim, and say that Michael seeks Terri's death so that he can inherit her estate.
The question of whether people with profound mental handicaps have a right to live has been hotly debated as a result of Terri's case. Liberal "right to die" activists contend that "living in a vegetative state isn't truly living," and support the ability of the estranged husband to control the destiny of his wife. Conservative "pro-life" activists protest for Terri's "right to live."
In 1990, Terri collapsed in her home and suffered irreversible brain damage. The cause of her collapse is a controversial subject. At the time of her collapse, the couple was having marital problems. Michael Schiavo's contention is that she suffered a heart attack because of chemical imbalance brought on by an eating disorder. Others, including members of her family, have speculated that she might have been asphyxiated by her husband.
Terri is severely disabled. Michael contends that she is in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS), which Terri's family fiercely disputes. She cannot speak or eat normally. She has difficulty swallowing, and is fed through a gastric feeding tube, though she can take Holy Communion. She is not in a coma or on life-support. She smiles, laughs, cries, moves, and makes child-like attempts at speech. Sometimes she will say "Mom" or "Dad" or "yeah" when her parents ask her a question. When they kiss her, she looks at them and "puckers up" her lips.
Terri's family has been battling her estranged husband over her fate since 1993. Though she never wrote a "Living Will" expressing a wish to refuse nutrition or medical treatment if disabled, Michael claims to recall conversations they had had which, he says, make him sure she would want to die. However, her family disputes that, saying that Terri is a devout Roman Catholic who would not wish to violate the Church's teachings on euthanasia and suicide by intentionally starving or dehydrating herself to death.
Terri's family also points out that Michael apparently did not recall those conversations immediately after Terri's collapse. It was only several years later, after Terri received $1.7 million in legal settlements to cover the cost of her long term care and rehabilitation, that Michael first claimed to remember conversations in which Terri expressed a wish to die rather than live in the condition in which she now finds herself. If she dies, Michael will inherit whatever remains of that money.
Michael Schiavo claims that she would not have wanted to live "as a vegetable," and that he is fighting for her "right to die." As legal guardian of Terri, he has placed strict limits on the time her family is allowed to visit her, and he has refused to allow her to undergo any sort of therapy. Instead, he had her placed in hospice, though her condition is not terminal.
Michael could legally cede guardianship to Terri's parents, but refuses to do so, claiming he is doing what is best for her. Her parents want to bring her home; they maintain that, with therapy, their daughter can be helped.
In 2004, Michael Schiavo won a court case to have her feeding tube removed so that she would die of starvation. Six days later, the Florida Legislature, in emergency session, passed Terri's law, giving Florida Governor Jeb Bush the right to intervene in the case; he immediately ordered the feeding tube reinserted.
During the six days that Terri's feeding tube was removed, Michael prohibited any attempt to feed her orally, and refused to allow a priest to place a small part of a wafer on her tongue during Holy Communion.
On May 19, 2004, Florida Judge W. Douglas Baird overturned the law saying that it "summarily deprived Florida citizens of their right to privacy." Governor Bush appealed the ruling to the United States Supreme Court.
On January 24, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, effectively allowing the lower court rulings to stand. The family (along with Gov. Bush) is attempting to appeal this decision.
External links
- Online home of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation
- Lying About Terri Schiavo
- St. Petersburg Times article about Terri's law
- Stephen Drake of Not Dead Yet: ...The doctor told my parents I would be a "vegetable" for the rest of my life - the same word now being used for Schiavo...